Washington Life & Health 4-Week Study Plan

Washington Law & Producer Conduct

~50 Questions. Powers of the Insurance Commissioner (RCW 48.02), licensing, 24-hour CE (3h ethics), fiduciary duties, replacement rules (WAC 284-23), twisting, rebating, and unfair claims practices.

Life Insurance Contracts & Provisions

~50 Questions. Term vs Whole Life, Universal/Variable products, standard provisions (incontestability, grace period, suicide clause), policy loans, nonforfeiture, and settlement options.

Disability & Health Insurance Provisions

~50 Questions. Disability income (own occ vs any occ, elimination period), medical expense, Medicare supplements (Medigap), long-term care, group coverage, COBRA, and the 20-15-90 claim clock.

• Differentiate policy types: Term (level, decreasing, annual renewable) vs Whole Life (straight, limited pay) vs Universal & Variable Life.
• Master standard policy provisions: Incontestability (2 years under RCW 48.23.050), Suicide clause (2-year refund), Grace period (30 days or one month), Reinstatement (within 3 years with evidence of insurability and back premiums + interest).
• Understand Nonforfeiture options: Cash surrender value, Reduced paid-up insurance, and Extended term insurance (automatic default).
• Compare 5 settlement options: Lump sum, Fixed period, Fixed amount, Interest-only, and Life income (pure life, life with period certain, refund annuity).
• Study key riders: Waiver of premium (usually 6-month waiting period), Accidental death (double indemnity), and Accelerated death benefits.

• Master Disability Income definitions: Own occupation (more favorable) vs Any occupation (stricter), presumptive disability, and elimination (waiting) period as a time deductible.
• Learn the 12 Mandatory Uniform Health Provisions under RCW 48.20: Entire contract, Time limit on certain defenses (2 years), Grace periods (7d weekly / 10d monthly / 31d others), Reinstatement (automatic after 45 days if not disapproved; 10-day sickness waiting period).
• Memorize the Disability Claim Clock: 20 days notice of claim, 15 days forms delivery, 90 days proof of loss, and legal action limits (min 60 days, max 3 years).
• Study senior & supplemental products: Medicare Supplements (Plan A core benefits, 30-day free look, 6-month open enrollment) and Long-Term Care (ADLs: bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, eating; 30-day free look).
• Review group coverage rules: COBRA continuation rights (18 mos termination, 29 mos disability, 36 mos divorce/death) and coordination of benefits (COB birthday rule).

• Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC): Commissioner is elected for a 4-year term, enforces RCW Title 48, examines domestic insurers at least every 5 years, and issues Cease and Desist orders.
• Producer licensing: 24 hours of approved CE every 2-year cycle (including 3 hours in ethics); 30-day requirement to report address or name change (RCW 48.17.450); 30-day reporting for criminal convictions.
• Fiduciary responsibilities: Separate premium trust account (RCW 48.17.480) for client funds; commingling with personal or general operating funds is strictly illegal.
• Life insurance replacement regulations (WAC 284-23-400): Notice Regarding Replacement of Life Insurance, 20-day unconditional right to return (free look), and notice to existing insurer within 3 working days.
• Unfair trade practices (RCW 48.30): Twisting (misleading comparison to induce lapse/surrender), Churning (replacing policy within same insurer primarily for commission), Rebating (sharing commission or giving anything of value > $100 not specified in contract), Defamation, and Unfair Discrimination.

• Take full-length 150-question practice exams under strict 195-minute time limits.
• Conduct distractor autopsies on every incorrect question: categorize errors into knowledge gap, stem misreading, or trick distractor.
• Commit the PSI First-5-Minute Dump Sheet to muscle memory—practice recreating it on a blank sheet in under 4 minutes.
• Drill high-yield distinction pairs: Misstatement of Age (adjusts benefits, does NOT void contract) vs Incontestability (2-year limit on misrepresentations).